Deputies from the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly, along with officials, journalists, and activists, inspected the Novoselki landfill on June 16, 2025, to assess the progress of its reclamation, which began in 2017. While the landfill no longer emits a strong odor and does not attract birds or animals, concerns remain about its overall safety.
The Novoselki landfill, operational since 1972, spans 71.8 hectares and received municipal and industrial waste. Residents had previously complained about unpleasant odors emanating from Novoselki and the neighboring Severny landfill. Reclamation efforts commenced after the landfill’s closure in 2017, following a 2014 agreement and a 2011 contract for a degassing station.
Corruption scandals and sanctions have hampered the reclamation process. A 2022 investigation revealed potential embezzlement of 100 million rubles by the general contractor, and the use of foreign equipment was halted.
During the on-site meeting, deputies observed green-covered hills and sewage-filled ditches. Poisonous liquid flows through channels into an open reservoir, and a wastewater treatment plant remains unlaunched. The degassing system is partially installed, but incomplete.
The St. Petersburg Center for Integrated Improvement estimates that the reclamation is 68% complete. Chairman Alexander Khodosok highlighted the absence of odor and ongoing garbage disposal at the site as positive developments. Acting director Viktor Mironov stated that contractors have developed a reclamation project, organized a bypass channel and reservoir for sewage, assembled a water treatment plant, built a temporary road, leveled part of the landfill, and installed a gas removal system and geotextiles.
However, the reclamation project is outdated and non-compliant with current legislation. An environmental impact assessment is needed, and updated data on the landfill’s condition is required. Work is currently suspended, with only security present at the site.
Mironov stated that an additional 239 million rubles is needed to complete the remaining 32% of the reclamation. These funds would enable the launch of wastewater purification, geological surveys, and the completion of the gas extraction system. The methane from the landfill will likely be burned.
Maintaining the facility is estimated to cost 13 million rubles per month for the water treatment plant alone. The plant is designed to process 1200 cubic meters of water daily, purifying it to river water quality. Due to funding shortages, a partial launch of the station is planned for 2025, processing 600 cubic meters of water per day.
The disposal of sludge waste from the water treatment process remains unresolved. Current legislation may require transporting the waste to a designated landfill outside of Novoselki.
Deputies questioned the committee on improvement and the committee on nature management about the landfill’s condition. The committee on nature management stated that they do not monitor the landfill’s environmental impact due to it being a federal-level supervision object.
Deputy Mikhail Amosov noted that the smell has decreased and the number of seagulls has declined. Tatyana Nagorskaya from “RazDelny Sbor” stated that the reduced odor is due to the cessation of organic waste disposal and soil coverage. She expressed concerns about the landfill’s shape and the risk of collapse and gas release.